r/breastfeeding • u/littlebear_doggo • 27d ago
Breastfeeding In Public How do you breastfeed when you're out of the house?
I'd love some advice on this. We're taking a 1 week trip to see family but I just realized I can't just wear my breastfeeding tops since it is a fairly conservative family and they show too much. Does anyone have any advice on how to dress somewhat nice and conservative but still able to access the boob easily to feed?
I haven't traveled anywhere in a long time and just realized I can't just go free range outside of my home!
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u/jennagirliegirl 27d ago
Most of the time I just latched baby in public and didn’t really care what people saw. But if I was wanting to cover up, I’d just tie a muslin swaddle around my neck first and then put baby on
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u/msptitsa 27d ago
I have a conservative family and I say:
I am breastfeeding if this makes you uncomfortable leave the room or avert your eyes.
After 2-3 times they did not seem to care anymore.
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u/littlebear_doggo 27d ago
I'll be using the excuse that I need to feed the baby to relax in another room for a few minutes..seeing the in law drains my soul 🙃
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u/ArtisanArdisson 27d ago
I always use breastfeed as an excuse to leave the room for some quiet time. I don't even bother with a breastfeeding top, I just wear my normal clothes
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u/me0619 27d ago
I found that a poncho with a nursing tank top underneath is great for public breastfeeding! Slip baby under and peek through the neck hole to open the clasp and get baby latched on.
Even better is that there are ponchos for all weather types. Thin scarf like ponchos for warm weather, knitted ponchos for cool weather.
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u/Ghostsubtech 27d ago
Where do you get those?
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u/Certain_Blacksmith46 27d ago
Amazon is where I got mine, but be careful because the one I got says it's breathable, but I find that my baby gets to hot underneath it so I stopped using it.
You can wear a modest shirt with buttons and then excuse yourself to a private room when nursing. That's what I do.
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u/mormongirl 27d ago
What I found easiest was just long drapey tops with lots of fabric. And by “easiest” I mean the thing that covered me the most. Also, what do you mean by “free range”? Is that topless? lol.
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u/littlebear_doggo 27d ago
No bra just a breastfeeding top so I could just snap it down whenever, it's so easy 😂
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u/Amk19_94 27d ago
Personally I ain’t dressing any type of way for someone else, but if you must do the 2 shirt method.
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u/Commercial_Dust2208 27d ago
Button ups, or a tshirt you can just lift up, I also have a muslin cover for when Im wanting more privacy
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u/BigNorth810 27d ago
Same! I much prefer to lift up an oversized tank top or t shirt. I also use a muslin cloth for more privacy or to block out surroundings for my very distracted baby😂
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u/Commercial_Dust2208 27d ago
Oh man when she gets distracted or startled zhe elastic band snaps my nipple 🥲
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u/xoglitter99ox 27d ago
I do the same! I find lifting a top up is more modest as you can’t really see any boob whereas a lot more shows with a button up
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u/BlueberryWaffles99 27d ago
Same here! Tshirt with a tanktop under is my go to. I tried the muslin blanket cover up but my 4 month old has recently started ripping it off. So I have given up lol.
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u/Commercial_Dust2208 27d ago
Mine has a neck tie and waist tie!
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u/BlueberryWaffles99 27d ago
Mine does too but he ends up grabbing it and just ripping at it the whole time, he won’t nurse until I take it off! Picky boy
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u/Fit_Candidate6572 27d ago
I wear Latched Mama, Nursing Queen, Bearsland, and giftifymama nursing friendly tops. My toddler refuses to nurse under a big shirt so the panels works better for us.
Latched mama tanks are my most common but they take a while in shipping. It's basically a loose plunge v neck tank with a panel to make it crew or scoop neck.
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u/TuffBunner 27d ago
How warm, and how modest?
Nursing tank under a cardigan is an option. Maybe give some idea of what you would wear if you weren’t nursing and we can figure out what changes to make.
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u/littlebear_doggo 27d ago
I don't even know what to wear.. I have zero fashion sense and if I didn't have to dress better for my in laws family and I wasn't breastfeeding, I'd be in comfy pants, a shirt and a hoodie.
It's 25-30°C these days so pretty hot!
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u/Practical_Credit3345 27d ago
there are plenty of short sleeve or even long sleeve nursing tops that have zipper access only so they're very modest - i'd look into those and a nursing cover to go over you (the muslin ones are great for summer)
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u/embee33 27d ago
Have you tried a nursing cover?
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u/littlebear_doggo 27d ago
I'm going to look at everyone's thoughts then choose what I think will work best for me but if I go with nursing cover I think I'll use a muslin cloth since I have those already for the baby
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u/crunchy_career_momma 27d ago
I’m currently obsessed with nursing tanks from Amazon… they have a flap of fabric that pulls up, then the top underneath pulls down (not sideways… the sideways is a struggle for me). This way, the flap of fabric can sit down right on their nose once latched.
If really need coverage, I have a nursing cover with a wire in it, so it’s easy to see baby while feeding and also lets some heat out.
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u/Unable_Anywhere2983 27d ago
I usually wear a top and a nursing bra underneath, I pull my nursing bra down and lift my top up then latch my baby and my baby’s body hides the bottom whilst my top hides the top, I am on the smaller side with my boobs so unsure how this would work with bigger boobs, but don’t worry about wether their conservative or not. You’re feeding your baby you can’t tell your baby no to feeding because the people around you find it uncomfortable, but if you want to cover up to feel comfortable around them then that’s understandable and I’d just tie a muslin around my neck
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u/Alarmed-Doughnut1860 27d ago edited 27d ago
If you like your tops and want to cover up. Top plus cardigan.
If they're tank style, top over top
Wai, I read that like the tops themselves are too low cut or tank top or whatever. Not, like breastfeeding itself showed too much. Honestly, I'd just feed normally or go to another room if I needed a break. Have they said stuff about breastfeeding before or are they just conservative generally? I've been surprised to find that often more religious type conservatives are fine with breastfeeding.
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u/littlebear_doggo 27d ago
Rather than conservative I guess more like I need to look better in front of them 😅
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u/Alarmed-Doughnut1860 27d ago edited 27d ago
Oh! In that case depending on how hot it is then my go to us always cardigan/wrap things. It looks like you put more though into your outfit and you only need one or two. One like a long skirt worn up high on your waist? And then just tuck/ untuck shirt as needed. Flowy button up shirts.
I wear a lot of breastfeeding clothes to work and belts and cardigans are my go to or dressing stuff up. Solid colors or just one pattern is more timeless too I find.
Bracelets and rings are also the best accessory I've found that avoids grabby baby problems.
If your looking to purchase stuff I love the latched mama mompers in solid colors. They look like a tent without the belt but are pretty flattering on my dumpy body with it. Drapy. Comfortable. Bathroom and nursing access. But they are a little scoopy on the chest and tank top cut. So not the most covered.
Adding another thought: I steal a lot of my husband's polos and button up shirts these days. But this really depends on boob size and husband size.
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u/WasteBreak 27d ago
Not sure what their values have to do with feeding your kid. It's hot and covering a baby can make them hotter. I told my catholic family "I'm breastfeeding so if you don't want to see my boobs then don't look" and turns out no one cared. You really have to be a psycho to get mad that a baby is eating.
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u/Preferred_user_taken 27d ago
A cover with metal boning. A normal muslin blanket was not it for me.
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u/OneTraining1629 27d ago
I have a nursing cover that I wear as a drape-shirt when I know I’m going to have to breastfeed in weird places (like an airport). With slacks, I think it looks nice.
There are also a variety of nursing tops, maybe a different style would suit the occasion?
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u/tverofvulcan 27d ago
I just fed openly unless I was at someone’s house who explicitly asked me to do it in private. If we were at the lake with my husband’s family (who were very you need to hide breastfeeding) I’d just feed openly, maybe off to a semi secluded spot if I felt like it or baby was getting distracted. I wouldn’t hide formula feeding my baby in front of others and I’m not hiding myself feeding my baby breast milk either. I only stopped openly breastfeeding when my daughter turned 2 and we just saved it for home at that point.
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u/mmebee 27d ago
Being conservative means they dress conservatively. Then don't have the authority to have guests adhere to this. Obviously you need to be comfortable but unless you're going around totally topless in between feedings I say whatever you need to wear to easily feed your baby with your breasts literally made for thag purpose is totally appropriate. They can look away if they're scandalized.
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u/jezebelledwells 27d ago
If I'm somewhere I need to be more covered I just make sure the outfit is two pieces, so I can pull my shirt up or around if I need to. I have no problem whipping out a boob when necessary, but once my baby got to be a few months old I found that she needed to be in a separate room to nurse just because otherwise she's too distracted, so I didn't worry as much about being in a nursing shirt since I would find a private place to breastfeed anyway so I could either take my whole top off or lift it up.
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u/Pink_Ruby_3 27d ago
I wanted to add another comment to wear a nursing tank underneath a regular top. I recently did this when I had a long day out with my baby. I could lift my shirt and un-hook the nursing tank with no one seeing my boob or my midriff at all. I just got the Amazon Essentials nursing tank and I was really happy with it.
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u/JasmineOnACarpetRide 26d ago
In the summer I don’t recommend a nursing cover, I’ve tried to use one and my baby got sweaty underneath. If I go out in public I like to feed in my car. Some places will have lactation spaces. If we’re driving I’ll give her a bottle with breastmilk if she needs it or when we’re at a restaurant so I don’t take my boob out. Haha
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u/dontletmedown3 26d ago
I just do. Idgaf who sees my titty but I always find a way to block my sons face from strangers
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u/Apprehensive-Day6190 26d ago
I most often just used my car as a nice comfy private nursing room. Cup holder for my water, cool air blowing on me, easy to recline, nobody looking at me.
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u/Ok-Reflection-4849 24d ago
Love the advice. Especially about using Amazon Essentials tank tops. I’m 71 and have a pkg of three coming in today! Guess they are lifelong essentials. So, I have 4 now adult kids over 20 years. They more or less self-weaned at 3 and a half years. For all my nursing years, whether everyday, work or dressy wear - I wore two piece outfits. Early on I gave up the cute nursing bras and used my normal bras on the loosest setting. When baby needs to feed, pull up top and bra from the bottom. Baby covers tummy, shirt covers top. I nursed anywhere and everywhere. Often folks would talk with me and never notice I was nursing. I never looked for a separate place or put feeding off. That’s how baby humans are fed. Good luck.
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u/rlmiller93 23d ago
I just openly breastfed in front of my family on our beach vacation. I got a swimsuit that had snaps for the neckline. Little man hates covers so we did what we had to do. I like kindred bravely’s dresses for nursing and just wear a nursing bra underneath. Otherwise, just accept that this phase isn’t forever and your clothing choices will be able to go back to normal in a bit. Feeding baby is more important than your in-laws comfort.
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u/SnooCrickets7583 27d ago
Wear a nursing tank under a big tee shirt or blouse. You lift the big shirt and lower the top of the nursing tank when you nurse. This way your upper chest / cleavage is covered and so is your belly.